Police shoot two suspects in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Providence Police shot two suspects on Branch Avenue after a short chase in the city, Col. Hugh Clements said Friday.

The officer-involved shooting happened shortly before 10 p.m., Clements said, after police spotted a vehicle that matched the description of two suspects wanted in Bristol. Clements said a deceased person had been found in Bristol earlier Friday.

One man and one woman were shot by police, Clements said. Both suspects were transported to Rhode Island Hospital. The man was more seriously injured than the woman, and both were still alive as of late Friday night.

Two police officers were also transported to the hospital with minor leg injuries.

The situation in Providence began when police spotted the vehicle that Bristol police had told them was connected to the investigation there. The chase lasted less than a mile before shots were fired. Col. Clements said police are still investigating whether the suspects fired at officers.

The suspects’ car appeared to have crashed, and was surrounded by Providence police cruisers on the scene. The back window of the suspects’ car was smashed. Clements said the male suspect was driving, and would not say if the suspects got out of the car at any point.

He said at least one officer fired at the suspects, and it was unclear if others had also fired. Police were in the early stages of the investigation at the time of the interview.

Rhode Island State Police responded to the scene to assist Providence Police, in accordance with state protocol for an officer-involved shooting. Bristol Police officers also arrived on the scene about an hour after the shooting.

Providence police officers remained at the scene Saturday morning, and Clements said that he did not yet have any update on the condition of the two pepole who were shot.